27 chapters
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27 chapters
1905
1905
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION By ALFRED HENRY LEWIS INTRODUCTION THE MORMON MENACE OR, THE CONFESSIONS OF JOHN DOYLE LEE CHAPTER I - THE STORMY YOUTH OF LEE CHAPTER II - LEE BEGINS A CAREER CHAPTER III - LEE BECOMES A MORMON CHAPTER IV - THE SAINTS BESET WITH TROUBLES CHAPTER V - THE MORMON WAR CHAPTER VI - LEE LOCATES THE GARDEN OF EDEN CHAPTER VII - THE SAINTS GATHER AT NAUVOO CHAPTER VIII - LEE AS A MISSIONARY CHAPTER IX - MORMONISM AND ITS ORIGIN CHAPTER X - LEE CASTS OUT DEVILS CHAPTER XI - HOT FOR
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THE MORMON PURPOSE
THE MORMON PURPOSE
Almost a half century ago, being in 1857, John Doyle Lee, a chief among that red brotherhood, the Danites, was ordered by Brigham Young and the leading counselors of the Mormon Church to take his men and murder a party of emigrants then on their way through Utah to California. The Mormon orders were to "kill all who can talk," and, in their carrying out, Lee and his Danites, with certain Indians whom he had recruited in the name of scalps and pillage, slaughtered over one hundred and twenty men,
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CHAPTER I - THE STORMY YOUTH OF LEE
CHAPTER I - THE STORMY YOUTH OF LEE
In justice to myself, my numerous family, and the public in general, I consider it my duty to write a history of my life. I shall content myself with giving facts, and let the readers draw their own conclusion therefrom. By the world at large I am called a criminal, and have been sentenced to be shot for deeds committed by myself and others nearly twenty years ago. I have acted my religion, nothing more. I have obeyed the orders of the Church. I have acted as I was commanded to do by my superior
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CHAPTER II - LEE BEGINS A CAREER
CHAPTER II - LEE BEGINS A CAREER
I formed a liking for Emily Conner. Emily was an orphan, and lived about four years at my aunt Charlotte's after her mother died, and until her father married again. She had a consoling word for me at all times when I was in trouble. From being friends, we became lovers and were engaged to be married, when my circumstances would permit. That winter I went to a school for three months. Early in the spring the Indian war known as the Black Hawk war broke out, and volunteers were called for. I enro
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CHAPTER III - LEE BECOMES A MORMON
CHAPTER III - LEE BECOMES A MORMON
After I moved to Luck Creek I was a fortunate man and accumulated property very fast. I look back to those days with pleasure. I had a large house and I gave permission to all sorts of people to come there and preach. Methodists, Baptists, Campbellites, and Mormons all preached there when they desired to do so. In 1837 a man by the name of King, from Indiana, passed by, or came to my place, on his way to Missouri to join the Mormons. He had been a New Light, or Campbellite preacher. I invited hi
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CHAPTER IV - THE SAINTS BESET WITH TROUBLES
CHAPTER IV - THE SAINTS BESET WITH TROUBLES
So things went from bad to worse, until the August election at Gallatin referred to. The troubles of that day brought the Church and Saints to a standstill; business was paralyzed; alarm seized the stoutest hearts, and dismay was visible in every countenance. The Prophet issued an order to gather all the people at Far West and Adam-on-Diamond, under the leadership of Col. Lyman White, for the purpose of protecting the people from mob violence, and to save their property from lawless thieves who
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CHAPTER V - THE MORMON WAR
CHAPTER V - THE MORMON WAR
After 1844 it was my habit to keep a journal, in which I wrote at length all that I considered worthy of remembering. Most of my journals, written up to 1860, were called for by Brigham, under the plea that he wished the Church historian to write up the Mormon history, and wanted my journals to aid him in making the history perfect. As these journals contained many things not intended for the public eye concerning the Mormon leaders and all I knew of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and what led t
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CHAPTER VI - LEE LOCATES THE GARDEN OF EDEN
CHAPTER VI - LEE LOCATES THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Among other matters I had a fine gray mare that attracted the attention of many of the mob. I was allowed to take her to water while closely guarded by armed men. One day as I took her to water I was spoken to by several, who said they were sorry for a man like me, who appeared to be honest and peaceably disposed; that they knew that I and many honest men were deluded by Joseph Smith, the impostor. But they thanked God he would delude no more people; that he would certainly be shot; that I had b
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CHAPTER VII - THE SAINTS GATHER AT NAUVOO
CHAPTER VII - THE SAINTS GATHER AT NAUVOO
About the middle of February, 1839, I started back for Fayette County, Illinois, with my family, in company with Brother Levi Stewart and Riley Helm, two of my old Illinois neighbors. While traveling through Missouri we were kindly treated by most of the people; many of them requested us to stop and settle down by them. I refused to do so, for I knew there was no safety for a true Saint in that State at that time. When we crossed the Mississippi River at Quincy, and touched Illinois soil, I felt
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CHAPTER VIII - LEE AS A MISSIONARY
CHAPTER VIII - LEE AS A MISSIONARY
Shortly after my return to Illinois I built a house for my family. During the winter I entered into a trading and trafficking business with G. W. Hickerson. We would go over the country and buy up chickens, butter, feathers, beeswax, and coon skins, and haul them to St. Louis, and carry back calicoes and other goods in payment for the articles first purchased. We made some money that way. While carrying on this trade I drew the remainder of my money from my friend, Vanleven, and began my prepara
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CHAPTER IX - MORMONISM AND ITS ORIGIN
CHAPTER IX - MORMONISM AND ITS ORIGIN
Only a short time after the events narrated it was arranged that Parson Hall and myself should hold another discussion in the Campbellite chapel. Parson Hall did not want to meet me in discussion, but he must do so or lose his flock, as all the people had become interested in the subject of Mormonism. We met at the appointed time, and chose two umpires to act as moderators of the meeting. The subject to be discussed was: "Are apostles, prophets, and teachers, together with the spiritual gifts sp
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CHAPTER X - LEE CASTS OUT DEVILS
CHAPTER X - LEE CASTS OUT DEVILS
After holding the discussion mentioned, Brother Young, of Jackson County, Tennessee, wished me to go with him and join in a discussion with a couple of Campbellite preachers. At first I declined, as the distance was nearly one hundred miles, and my labors in the ministry where I was were pressing. I had more calls to preach than I could fill. However, I finally consented to go and attend the discussion. On our arrival at the place agreed upon I learned that all necessary arrangements had been ma
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CHAPTER XI - HOT FOR LEE IN TENNESSEE
CHAPTER XI - HOT FOR LEE IN TENNESSEE
During the winter of 1841 a letter was sent I the Prophet from the leading men and members of the branch church on Stone River, Tennessee, and Creple Creek, Rutherford County, Tennessee, desiring him to send me back to labor in that country, as it was a wide field for preaching. They stated that I had so ingratiated myself among the people that no other man could command the same influence and respect among them. This was enough. In the latter part of February I took leave of my family and enter
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CHAPTER XII - OF PECULIAR INTEREST IN NAUVOO
CHAPTER XII - OF PECULIAR INTEREST IN NAUVOO
Upon my return home I found my family well. Work on the Temple was progressing finely, every effort being made to push it ahead. About this time a man named Bennett came on a visit to the Prophet, and soon after joined the Church. At that time he wielded quite an influence in government affairs. He grew in the graces of the Prophet and became his right-hand man. He endeavored in connection with Stephen A. Douglass to obtain a charter for the city of Nauvoo. Bennett organized the Nauvoo Legion, a
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CHAPTER XIII - DEATH OF JOSEPH SMITH
CHAPTER XIII - DEATH OF JOSEPH SMITH
Joseph the Prophet and Hyrum, his brother, were assassinated on the 24th day of June, 1844, at Carthage, about twenty miles from Nauvoo, while under the pledged faith of Governor Ford, of Illinois. Governor Ford had promised them protection if they would stand trial and submit to the judgment of the court. By his orders the Nauvoo Grays were to guard the jail while the prisoners awaited trial. The mob was headed by Williams and Sharp, editors of the Nauvoo Signal. When they approached the jail t
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CHAPTER XIV - THE DOCTRINE OF SEALING
CHAPTER XIV - THE DOCTRINE OF SEALING
In the winter of 1845 meetings were held all over the city of Nauvoo, and the spirit of Elijah was taught in the different families as a foundation to the order of celestial marriage, as well as the law of adoption. Many families entered into covenants with each other - the man to stand by his wife and the woman to cleave unto her husband, and the children to be adopted to the parents. I was one of those who entered into covenants to stand by my family, to cleave to them through time and eternit
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CHAPTER XV - THE SAINTS TURN WESTWARD
CHAPTER XV - THE SAINTS TURN WESTWARD
Only a few words in regard to the Prophet Joseph. He was tried twenty-one times for different offenses, and acquitted each time. Once when he was visiting in Peoria he was captured by four men from Missouri, who started with him in a wagon to take him to that State. Two sat beside him with cocked pistols, punching him in the side occasionally, and telling him that if he opened his mouth they would blow his brains out. He was not arrested by any process of law, but they were trying to kidnap him.
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CHAPTER XVI - LEE GOES TO SANTA FE
CHAPTER XVI - LEE GOES TO SANTA FE
We got into camp the next day. After striking camp I noticed that a tire was gone from one of the wagons. A few days afterwards the mother of my first wife went down to a stream near by and caught a number of fine fish; on her way back to the camp she found the missing tire. It had rolled nearly three hundred yards from the road, and was lying where it stopped. The people began cutting hay and stacking it, so as to be prepared for feeding our stock during the winter. One night, in the latter par
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CHAPTER XVII - LEE IS TREATED BADLY BY THE BRETHREN
CHAPTER XVII - LEE IS TREATED BADLY BY THE BRETHREN
With me I had brought home about all that my team could haul of supplies, clothing, and groceries, which soon made my family comfortable. I had met Brigham and shaken hands with him, but had not made my report or delivered the money to him. The next morning Brigham called to see me, and notified me that the Council would meet at nine o'clock at Dr. Richards', and for me to be there and make my report. He appeared ashamed of the manner in which my family had been treated. "Brother Brigham, how do
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CHAPTER XVIII - THE DANITE AND HIS DUTY
CHAPTER XVIII - THE DANITE AND HIS DUTY
While my mind is running in that direction let me tell of certain of the doings of the Danites. These stories I relate will illustrate the purpose and uses of the Danite in the work of the Mormon Church, and show how the sword of Gideon was wielded in cases smaller than the affair at Mountain Meadows, still to be written down. What follows are instances of thousands of like kind. In the fall of 1859 two young men on their way to California stopped at the Santa Clara fort to recruit their jaded a
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CHAPTER XIX - THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS
CHAPTER XIX - THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS
My time I find is getting short. To continue as I have the story of the little details and what befell as we crossed the plains for the promised land of Utah would need more days than I have left me. I will go then direct to the story of the Mountain Meadows troubles for which I am to die, as I desire that the facts as they occurred should be known. As a duty to myself, I purpose to give a statement of all I know in that affair. I did not act alone; I had many to assist me at Mountain Meadows. T
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CHAPTER XX - THE MUSTER OF THE DANITES
CHAPTER XX - THE MUSTER OF THE DANITES
On Thursday, about noon, several Danites joined us from Cedar City. I cannot remember the order in which the brethren came to the Meadows, but I do recollect that at this time and in this company were Brothers Joel White, William C. Stewart, Benjamin Arthur, Alexander Wilden, Charles Hopkins, and James Tate. These men said little, but everyone seemed to know what he was there for. As our messenger had gone for further orders, we moved camp about four hundred yards further up the valley on to a h
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CHAPTER XXI - THE BLOOD FEAST OF THE DANITES
CHAPTER XXI - THE BLOOD FEAST OF THE DANITES
It was then noon, or a little after. I found the emigrants strongly fortified; their wagons were chained to each other in a circle. In the center was a rifle-pit, large enough to hold the entire company. This had served to shield them from the constant fire which had been poured into them from both sides of the valley and a rocky range that served as a breastwork for their assailants. The valley at this point is not more than five hundred yards wide, and the emigrants had their camp near the cen
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CHAPTER XXII - THE DANITE CHIEF REPORTS TO BRIGHAM
CHAPTER XXII - THE DANITE CHIEF REPORTS TO BRIGHAM
Accordingly, I went to Salt Lake City to report. I started about a week or ten days after the massacre, and was on the way about ten days. When I arrived in the city I went to Brigham's house and gave him a full, detailed statement of the whole affair. He asked me if I had brought a letter from Brother Haight, with his report of the affair. I said: "No, Brother Haight wished me to make a verbal report of it, as I was an eye-witness. Brother McMurdy, Brother Knight, and myself killed the wounded
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CHAPTER XXIII - LEE NEARS THE END
CHAPTER XXIII - LEE NEARS THE END
Many people think that Brigham cut me off from the Church and refused to recognize me following the massacre. I will relate a circumstance that took place ten years after the facts were known by him. In 1867 or 1868 I met Brigham and suite at Parowan, seventy miles from Washington, the place where a part of my family resided. Brother James Pace was with me. The Prophet said that he wanted uncle Jim Pace to go with me and prepare dinner for him, and to go by my herd and take several fat kids alon
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APPENDIX I - BLOOD ATONEMENT
APPENDIX I - BLOOD ATONEMENT
As exhibiting the Mormon position on the doctrine of "Blood Atonement," the following extracts are taken from the sermons and preachings of the Prophet Brigham Young: "I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain in order to atone for their sins." "Now, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you consider is strong doctrine; but it is to save them, not to destroy them." "All mankind love themselves; and let these principle
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APPENDIX II - THE STORY OF LEE'S ARREST
APPENDIX II - THE STORY OF LEE'S ARREST
United States Marshal's Office, Beaver City, Utah, April 1st, 1877. My Dear Sir: As requested, I send you the facts of the arrest of John Doyle Lee, from the time the warrants were placed in my hands until I arrested him and brought him to Beaver City. I tell it in my own way, and you can use it as you see proper. About the 1st of October, 1874, warrants were placed in my hands for the arrest of Lee, Haight, Higbee, Stewart, Wilden, Adair, Klingensmith, and Jukes (the warrant for the arrest of D
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